Automatic stringed musical instrument.



Patented lune I7, I902.

F. W. WOOD &. E. H. STILES, 1R. AUTOMATIC STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.(Application filed July 2, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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HE Nollms arms 00. Puma-Limo, WASHINGTON u c "No. 702,898. Patented June[7, I902. r. w. woon & E. H. smzs, m. AUTOMATIC STRINGED MUSICALINSTRUMENT.

(Application filed July 2, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Model.)

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By @g at MM 02% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC'H WV. WVOOD AND EDWARD H. STILES, JR, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI;SAID STILES ASSIGNOR TO SAID IVOOD.

AUTOMATIC STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPEGIFIGATXON forming part or." Letters Patent No. 702,898, dated June17, 1902.

Application filed July 2, 1901. Serial No. 66,833. (No model.)

To all ZU/Z/ON'Z/ it may concern.-

Beit known that we, FREDERICH \V. WOOD and EDWARD H. STILES, J12,citizens of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Stringed Musical Instruments, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to automatic stringed musicalinstruments, and hasfor its object to produce an instrument of this character positive andreliablein action and embodying reciprocatory pickers, which pick thestrings in their retrograde as well as advance movement and alwaysproduce the same volume of vibration and tone in striking the same note.

With this and other objects in view ashereinafter appear the inventionconsists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction andcombinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, and inorder that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is an interior view of a casecontaining a banjo and mechanism for playing thesame automatically. Fig.2 isa horizontal section taken on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is acentral vertical section taken on line III III of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is anelevation of a modified form of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section ofone of the main valves and a part of the vacuum-chest, taken on the lineV V of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line VI VI of Fig. 1.Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing the springactuated collar, the cam,and the coupling of the picker-rod and the guide-arm and support for thesame in section. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section showing the picker indifferent positions. Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line IXIX of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line X X of Fig. 8. Fig.11 is a view showing a modified form of picker-operating mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, where like reference characters designatecorresponding parts, 1 designates a suitablecasing; 2, a banjo supportedtherein, with its neck portion projecting upward; 3, the exhaust-chest,and

a the tube connecting the exhaust-chest with any snitablemechanism (notshown) formaintaining a vacuum in said chest as long as the instrumentis in operation.

Mounted in the exhaust-chest are the main valvesin the usual numberrequired, each of which valves is constructed as follows:

5 designates a vertical cylindrical casing screwed into the top of thecase and having its lower end seated upon and closed by acentrally-perforated rubber disk 6 and its upper end provided with acentral and ecc entricallyperforated cap 7.

8 is a centrally-perforated partition dividing thecasingintoalargelowerbottom chamber 9 and a small upper chamber 10, thelower chamber communicating with the exhaust-chest through openings 1.1in the casing, the upper chamber being provided with a side tube-section12, adapted for a purpose which hereinafter appears.

13 designates the piston fitting snugly in the lower chamber andprovided with a small opening 14:, which maintains open communicationbetween the exhaust-chest and chamber 9 below the piston. Thepiston-stem 15 fits slidingly in the central opening of cap 7 andcarries a dual-faced valve 16, which closes the perforation of partition8 when the piston is depressed and permits external air to enter chamber10 through the perforated cap and escape through tube-section 12 andwhen the piston is elevated closes the openings of the perforated capand permits air to enter chamber 10 through tube-section 12 and passdown through perforated partition 8 and perforations 11 to theexhaust-chest, from which it escapes through tube 4, as hereinbeforestated.

Secured in the bottom of the exhaust-chest and communicating with theperforation of rubber disk 6 is a permanent tube-section 17, connectedby a tube 1'7 to the tracker-bar 18, provided with the usual opening 19,and over said tracker-bar is drawn in any suitable manner a perforatednote-sheet 20. As the perforations of said sheet register with theopening of the tracker-bar atmospheric pressure is admitted to the lowerpart of chamher 9, a small portion of it passing through opening 14 andperforations 11 to the exhaust-- chest, the greater volume because ofthe dil minutive size of opening 14 and the greater area of piston 13than the valve 16 raising said piston and valve, so as to close theeccentric openings of the cap and open up communication between chambers9 and 10 to permit air from the latter to be drawn into the former andpass to the exhaust-chestfor a purpose which is hereinafter explained.As said registering opening of the note-sheet passes out of alinementwith that of the tracker-bar, atmospheric pressure is shut off below thepiston, and the pressure of the air entering through valve 16 byway ofthe perforated cap forces the latter and the piston to their originalpositions and cuts off com.- munieation between chambers 9 and 10. Theaction of the main valve and the resultant effect will be hereinafterexplained.

Arranged at diametrically opposite points on the banjo-head are fourpickers, two of which are formed on each block 21 and thesupporting-frame,hereinafter referred to,carried thereby, and each blockhas its inner face eoncaved, as at :22, for each picker, said cavity, inconjunction with the oppositely bowed or convex cap forming an air-tightchamber divided by a flexible diaphragm 21-.

Secured to opposite sides of the central portion of the diaphragm andforming in conjunction therewith what might be termed a piston areplates 25, the stem 26 of said piston extending through and having anairtight joint with the cap 23 and carrying at suitable distances apartthe adjustable collars 27 28, adapted by contact with bearingarm 30 offrame 29, hereinbefore referred to, to limit the reeiprocatory action ofthe diaphragm or piston. The head of said frame is provided with a slot31, parallel with each piston-stem, through which project screwbolts 32,and engages a supporting-plate 33, provided with a slot 34.

35 designates an adjusting-screw extending through slot 31, plate 33,andcentrallyof its slot and having a head 36 and an enlargement 37 engagingthe upper and lowersides, respectively, of the plate in order that whenturned it shall through the medium of its screw portion occupying slot34- simply move lock 38 within said slot nearer to or farther from theplane of the strings, said block terminating contiguous to the head ofthe instrument in a pin 39, having flanges 40 to retain upon the pin thedouble cam all, the in clined or cam surfaces of said cam convergingtogether, as shown in Fig. 7. The cam is mounted rigidly on the pickerrod 42, hinged, as at 4-3, to the piston-stem 26, this pivotalconnection of the rod enabling it to swing toward or from the face ofthe instrument as the cam rides upon said pin. The inverted-V formationof the cam causes the outer end of the rod in itsreciprocation todescribe a letter V as wide as the cam is long, but of greater depth,because said end is more remote from pivot ii-3. (See Fig. 7, where thei dotted lines show the cam at one end of its movement, and thereforeelevated, and full lines show it midway its movement, and thereforedepressed, this depression being effected most positively and reliablyby means of the spring 44:, secured to frame 29.)

The front end of the picker-rod is bifurcated, as at -15, and pivotedtherein is the picker 46, that sideof the picker which engages thestring with a pulling action being straight, as at it), and the oppositeside, which engages the string with a pushing ac tion, tapered orbeveled, as at 46".

The picker is caused to engage the string with a yielding pressure whenmoving in either direction by means of a collar-l7, slidingly mounted onthe picker-rod and. terminating in a pair of opposite arms 18 48, thepicker in its pulling action against the string engaging arm t8 and inits pushing action against the string engaging arm l Sgsaid armsoffering a yielding resistance to the pivotal movement of the pickerunder the pressure of a spring 49, mounted on the rod and bearing at itsrear end against an adjustable collar 50. It will be observed byreference to Figs. 7 and 8 that the resistance of the string causes thepicker to pivotally operate to the position shown in full lin inthelastnamed figure against the resistance of spring 40 and that thetendency of the picker is to ride over the string.

Communicating with the opposite sides of the diaphragm 24 are tubes 5151 for a purpose which hereinafter appears, and in Fig. ll the sametubes connect with opposite sides of the bellows 52 the equivalent. ofthe diaphragm mechanism, said bellows being provided with an arm 53,pivotally connected to the rear end of the picker-rod, the pivotalconnectionpermitting the same pivotal action of the rod that it receivesfrom its pivotal connection 4-3 with the piston-stem 26.

Secured within the case and vertically over the picker mechanism, bypreference, are brackets 51, carrying blocks 55, containing two cavities56 57, united by a passage 58, connected by a'short tube-section 59 anda tube 60 with the short tube-section 12 of one of the main valves.

(31 (31 designate elastic covers or diaphragms for cavities 56 57,respectively, and ($2 63 pistons centrally attached to said diaphragmsand having parallel stems (34: 65. Stem (it carries two valves (36 (37,and stem 65 a single valve 68, valve-stem (it operating in cylindricalcasing (59 and valve-stem 65 in casing 70.

Casing (59 is provided with a tubular block 71, having a valve-seat atits lower end for valve (56 and a seat at its upper end for valve 67,said valves alternately engaging the block. Communicating with thelatter is a short tube-section 72, connected by a tube 72 to thevacuum-creating mechanism, (not shown,) and connecting casing (39 aboveand below the block to the upper and lower ends of cas- TIC ing aretubes 73 74, tubular valve-blocks 76 for alternate engagement with valve68 being arranged within casing 70 contiguous to and between tubes 7374, respectively. Between said blocks 75 76 casing 70 is provided withan opening 77, open to the atmosphere and above and below said blocks,respectively, with tube-sections 78 79, the former being connected by atube 80 to tube section 51 of the picker diaphragm orbellows, (see Fig.6 or Fig. 11,) a similar tube 81 connecting tube-section 79 with thetube-section 51 of the diaphragm or bellows.

Assuming now that a certain perforation of the note-sheet has registeredwith an opening of the tracker-bar and that such action has beenfollowed by the operation of the main valve described, it will beapparent that the air-draft through tube-section 12 has created a vacuumunder diaphragms 61 61, this action being instantly followed by thedescent of said diaphragms or pistons and corresponding movement on thepart of the valves connected thereto. As such movement takes placecommunication between exhaust-tube section 72 and tube 73 is cut off byvalve 67, and synchronously communication is cut off between opening 77and tube 79 by valve 68. At the same time communication is opened upbetween exhausttube section 72, tube 74, tube section 79, andtube-section 51 of the picker mechanism, creating a vacuum at one sideof the piston or diaphragm thereof, and at the same instant external airis brought to bear against the opposite side of the diaphragm, the airentering opening 77 of casing 70 and passing through block 75,tube-section 7S, tube 80, and tube-section 51. At the instant a vacuumis created at one side and air-pressure is brought to bear on the otherthe picker is caused to operate with its pulling-face on the string,this action beinginstantly followed by its pushing action, the sametaking place as the note-sheet opening passes out of alinement with thetracker-bar opening, the result being the piston of the main valvedrops, external air enters cavities 56 57 through main-valve cap 7,tube-section 12, tube 60, and their connections and raises thediaphragms or pistons 61 61 to the position shown in Fig. 3, this actionopening up communication between exhaust-tube section 72, block 69, tube73, tube-section 78, tube 80, and tube-section 51 to exhaust air fromthe corresponding side of the picker diaphragm or piston. At the sametime external air enters openings 77, passes through block 76,tube-section 78, tube 81, and tube-section 51 to the opposite side ofthe piston, the result being the pushing action of the picker iseffooted, as stated.

In lieu of the flexible diaphragm shown in Fig. 3 bellows 61 61 may beemployed, the expanding action of the bellows being facilitated by meansof springs 61", attached to block 55 and to the bellows, and in thisc0nnection it is to be noted that the reelevation of the diaphragms orpistons 61 61 is facilitated by the employment of springs Get 65, theformer bearing atits opposite ends against the closed lower portion ofcasing 69 and the under side of valve 66, while spring 65 bears againstthe closed lower end of casing 70 and the collar 65 of the piston-rod.

62 designates a suitable frame above the valve mechanism last describedand embodying a staggered series of bellows 83, the bellows being instaggered relation, as otherwise they could not be arranged in thedesired proximity to the frets of the instrument with which theycooperate, as hereinafter explained.

Sat designates a tube leading from each bellows to one of the mainvalves, being connected to the tube-section 12 of said valve in orderthat the action of the valve hereinbefore explained and caused by theregistration of the note-sheet opening with the trackerbar opening shallcreate a vacuum in the bellows and cause its collapse, this collapse bythe engagement of its arm 85 with the rear end of the pivotedfret-finger 86 pressing the string down upon the fret in an obviousmanner. As said note-sheet opening moves out of alinement with thetracker-bar opening the main-valve action operates as described andpermits external air to enter the collapsed bellows and permit thespring 87, pressing at one end against the guide 88 and at its oppositeend against the head of link 89, to force said link outwardly andthrough its pivotal connections with the pivoted finger 86 reexpand thebellows, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2.

As the operation of the various parts has been set out in detail and inthe connections wherein they cooperate with each other it is belie ved arecapitulation of the entire operation is unnecessary. ltis apparent, ofcourse, that while we have illustrated and described the preferredembodiment of the invention it is susceptible of Various changes asregards its form, proportion, detail construction, and arrangement ofparts without departing from the essential spirit and scope orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an instrument of the character described, a reciprocatory rod, apicker pivoted to said rod and held yieldingly against pivotal movementin either direction, and a cam for causing the point of the picker as itmoves forward to be depressed and then rise to its original plane, andas it moves backward to be again depressed and again rise to itsoriginal plane, substantially as described.

In an instrument of the character described, a reciprocatory rod, apicker pivoted to said rod and held yieldingly against pivotal movementin either direction, a fixed pin, and a cam provided with convergingcamfaces and secured to said rod, and having its cam-faces engaging saidpin, substantially as described.

3. In an instrument of the character described, a reciprocatory rod, apicker pivoted to said rod and held yieldingly against pivotal movementin either direction, a fixed pin, a cam provided with convergingcam-faces and secured to said rod, and having its camfaces engaging saidpin, and a spring holding said cam and pin in yielding engagement,substantially as described.

4:. In an instrument of the character described, a frame, an adjustablepin carried thereby, and provided with flanges, a reciprocatory rodprovided with a cam engaging said pin, and a picker pivoted to the endof said rod and held yieldingly against pivotal movement in eitherdirection, substantially as described.

5. In an instrument of the character described, a reciprocatory rod, apicker pivoted thereto, a spring-actuated sliding collar upon the rod,and provided with an arm above and below the pivotal point of thepicker, substantially as described.

G. In an instrument of the character described, a hinged reciprocatingrod, a picker pivoted to the free end of the rod and having pivotalmovement in the same plane as that of the rod, a spring holding thepicker against pivotal movement in either direction, and a cam to causethe point of the picker to descend and rise again in its retrogade aswell as its advance movement, substantially as described.

7. In an instrument of the character described, an exhaust-chest, avalve therein, comprising a casing having a lower chamber communicatingwith the exhaust-chest, and an upper chamber communicating with theatmosphere, a perforated partition separating said chambers, and aperforated bottom for the casing, a tube communicating with the lowerchamber through said perforated bottom, a piston mounted in the lowerchamber and provided with a small passage, and a valve mounted on thepiston-stem, and adapted to alternately close communication between saidchambers or to prevent external air entering the upper chamber,substantially as described.

8. In an instrument of the character described, a pair of valve-casings,tubes connecting said casings, one of said casings being provided withan opening, and with a sec- 0nd pair of tubes, a tubular block betweeneach of said second tubes and said opening, a tubular block in the othercasing between the connecting-tubes, a tube connected to the last-namedcasing and communicating with said tubular block, a reciprocating stemextending longitudinally of each casing, a valve upon one stem adaptedto alternately close the passage of the tubular blocks of said casing,and a pair of valves upon the other stem adapted to alternately engagethe tubular block of said casing, the lower valve being adapted to beseated and unseated synchronously with the single valve of the othercasing, substantially as described.

9. In an instrument of the character described, a pair of casings, tubesconnecting said casings, one of said casings being provided with anopening, and with a second pair of tubes, a tubular block between eachof said second tubes and said opening, a tubular block in the othercasing between the connecting-tubes, a tube connected to the last-namedcasing and communicating with said tubular block, a reciprocating stemextending longitudinally of each casing, a valve upon one stem adaptedto alternately close the passage of the tubular blocks of said casing, apair of valves upon the other stem adapted to alternately engage thetubular block of said casing, the lower valve being adapted to be seatedand unseated synchronously with the single valve of the other casing, apneumatic chamber, a flexible diaphragm therein, a picker mechanismactuated thereby, tubes connecting said second tubes with said pneumaticpicker at opposite sides of said diaphragm, and means as the valves ofsaid casings are operated to synchronously exhaust the air at one sideof the diaphragm and supply air to the other, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of asuitable support, a series of levers suitably supported and providedwith fingers for pressure upon the strings of the instrument contiguousto the frets, a series of bellows provided with arms at one end forengagement with said levers at the side of their pivot-s opposite fromsaid fingers, rods suitably guided and connected to said levers, springsengaging said rods and tending to inflate the bellows and hold the.fingers out of contact with the strings and exhaust-tubes connected withthe bellows and adapted by creating a vacuum therein to col lapse themand cause them to operate said levers and thereby synchronously overcomethe resistance of said springs and throw said fingers into engagementwith the strings, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof we ai'lix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

FREDERIOII IV. WOOD. EDWARD ll. SIILES, JR. \Vitnesses:

II. C. Ronenns, G. Y. Tnonrn.

